Another BHS Class of '58 graduate with ties to the high school band is Bob Thomas, who lives in Palm Springs, CA. "That's me," Thomas, an exceptionally gregarious man, said as he pointed to one of several pictures of the Brownsville band on a display board at the reunion.
Thomas was the band's drum major.
"Wow, that was a lot of fun," he said. "I loved music, going to football games and sock hops, so (being the drum major) was a natural outlet for me." He also taught baton twirling at Ernie Ruggiero's dance school.
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Thomas, who has lived in Palm Springs since 2002, left Brownsville in 1960 "with no regrets." "I wouldn't say I was a party animal, but I enjoyed having a good time," he said with a knowing smile. "They closed the streets here very early and there wasn't a lot to do. So I said, 'I'm out of here.' I had a '52 Chevy and $150 in my pocket and hit the road." Thomas worked for a freight company in California for 32 years before retiring. He now enjoys traveling and is looking forward to a trip to Brazil later this year.
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We had to find out if Bob could still "strut his stuff" as a drum major 50 years later and the dude managed to pull if off (we had to administer a little oxygen after the fact)!
